Bugs are so Crafty

Photo by Alma Sacra

A few weeks ago, my husband Rob saw a small bug run across our living room floor.  He got a tissue and went to gently pick up the bug.  Of course, the bug was quite frightened and zipped out of his reach  My husband said, “Come on baby.  I am not gonna hurt you.”  He then said to me, “They are so crafty.” 

It truly is amazing how bugs can move so quickly and get away from us.  We are like the thundering cumbersome giant…”Fe, fi, fo, fum”….kabooommm (Oops, he fell down again.).

I think we should appreciate the craftiness of those little bugs and take a lesson from them.  Don't look up and say "Oh, *#@*!  I will never survive.  I give up."  Instead, be crafty, be creative, and be strong. 

Love to your creative natures today!

Sacred Places

Sometimes we encounter places that send us a rush of feelings and give us a great sense of peace and serenity.

There are obvious places like the Wailing Wall, Machu Picchu, Stonehenge, and so on.  For many entering a church may give this feeling.  You may also find other places that touch you deeply.  It is even possible to feel this way in your own backyard, in the woods by the creek, by a particular waterfall, on the beach, etc.  One of my most sacred places is the campus of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana.  When I did my undergrad study there all I had to do was pull through the gate and the absolute presence of God wrapped me in warmth and my heart glowed.  I always felt such peace and joy there.  Another place for me just happens to be my husband’s embrace. 

Do you have a place like this?  Take a moment to close your eyes and consider it.

Making a Change

A new year is just around the corner.  With it brings a new beginning, a new chance to change your life.  New Year’s resolutions are part of that beginning, but why wait for a particular day to change?  If you want to make a “new” beginning, why not start when you think about it?  As soon as a new thought enters your mind think about it, and if it is truly something you want then start that minute.  Whether it is to stop smoking, lose weight, or just to help in your community more make the commitment right then.  Have you ever considered that waiting until a certain day is truly procrastination?  If you really want to make a change, go for it now. 

Books, books, books

There is a wealth of knowledge out there just waiting to be soaked up.  There are classes you can take, seminars you can attend, and groups you can join to learn and expand your knowledge.  However, one of the best places to look is your local bookstore or library.  Picking up a book and reading the author’s opinion or material can give you insight into a variety of different topics.  Today with the vast number of books libraries have and as inexpensive as they are you can surely find about anything you would enjoy learning about.  You can also download books electronically for quick and easy access.  You can find books on lifestyles, different cultures, healthy alternatives, spiritual traditions and the list goes on and on.  Picking up a book on a subject you know little or nothing about can open a door that you might not ever have even seen. Maybe it won't resonate with you.  On the other hand, maybe it will be a life changing read.  You might just find a little bit or piece of something you want to add to your personal lifestyle.  By reading you can learn and experience the energy each subject has to offer all while sitting in your bed, on the train, or even eating your lunch.  I love to view each book as a doorway into an exciting room, what that room holds I don't know until I get to the back of the room and find the doorway out (back cover).  As I go through the room, however, I might just sit in a comfy chair or look out a window as I learn and grow.  Never have I encountered a book that I haven't taken something from.  Even if I dislike the book I still learn or gain knowledge from the information inside.  Think about that the next time you go looking for a book.  Maybe picking up something a little different is just what you need.  Too much knowledge has never been a problem, but a lack of knowledge may be a problem. 

Photo from Creative Commons

If the Shoe Fits...

Photo from Creative Commons

Have you been told time and again that you are not good enough?  This is something that is painful to think about, but it can be helpful if you are ready.  As a child, were you told you were a pest, you did not understand this or that, you should be quiet, you weren’t good enough?  Think back to your teen years.  Were you ever made fun of?  Did you get turned down for a date or dumped?  Never made the team or never allowed to get off the bench?  What about as an adult?  Been fired?  Passed over for a promotion?  Told to keep your mouth shut and just do your job? 

Okay, sometimes we do things that might make us a pest.  Sometimes we really aren’t good enough to play on the team.  Sometimes we mess up and should be fired.  So, perhaps sometimes the shoe fits, BUT it doesn’t mean that you aren’t good enough overall! 

We all have unique and special talents that we are good enough at doing!  So, if the shoe that someone else is trying to shove your foot into doesn’t fit, kick it off and be willing to put on the shoes that do fit you.  In fact, if you prefer, just go barefoot.  At some point, you may find a pair of shoes that fit perfectly or you may change shoes along the way.  The choice is yours after all! 



It's Not Just Soup and Grilled Cheese

Photo by Arnold Gitilao

Whether you cook your own soup and grilled cheese or purchase it at a restaurant take the time to be mindful of it.  Any meal you make or any meal you eat has been nurtured in some fashion before it ever reaches you.  With tomato soup and grilled cheese - the tomatoes were planted, watered, weeded, harvested – the wheat was planted, watered, weeded, harvested, milled into flour, which is in your bread – the cheese…well, you get the idea.  Then these ingredients were put into your meal and cooked for your enjoyment.  A lot of energy went into your meal and I am not talking about just the cooking of it.  As you consume your meal be mindful of that and appreciate each delectable bite.  Believe it or not being mindful of the little things can make a huge change in your life and your connection to Spirit.   

It Doesn't Come in a Box

The present doesn't come in a box and you can't even come close to wrapping it up.  As you enjoy your holiday season no matter what your beliefs are all you have to do is look around to find your true joy.  Look at the people you are spending the holidays with.  These people are the true joys of the season.  If you have a partner, think about how much he/she brings into your life and how much more special the holidays are with him/her.  If you are lucky enough to have kids, you could write a book on the wonders and excitement of the holiday season through the eyes of those children.  Make it a point to show your children how important the giving part of the holiday season is.  Let them see how wonderful and important it is to appreciate those who mean the most to you. 

Photo from Creative Commons